Oenothera plant named ‘INNOENO131’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Oenothera  plant named ‘INNOENO131’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; freely and early flowering habit; long flowering period; and large bright yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Oenothera hybrida cultivar INNOENO131.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Oenothera plant, botanically known as Oenothera hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name INNOENO131.

The new Oenothera is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely-branching Oenotheras with numerous flowers and attractive flower coloration.

The new Oenothera originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 1999 of the Oenothera hybrida cultivar African Sun, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Oenothera hybrida cultivar Narrow Gray Leaved, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Oenothera was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination by the Inventor during the summer of 2000 in an controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since the summer of 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Oenothera are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar INNOENO131 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘INNOENO131’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘INNOENO131’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Oenothera:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Large bright yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Oenothera are most similar to plants of the female parent, the cultivar African Sun. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Oenothera differed from plants of the cultivar African Sun in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Oenothera flowered earlier than plants of         the cultivar African Sun.     -   2. Plants of the new Oenothera had larger flowers than plants of         the cultivar African Sun.

Plants of the new Oenothera can also be compared to of the male parent, the cultivar Narrow Gray Leaved. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Oenothera differed from plants of the cultivar Narrow Gray Leaved in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Oenothera were more outwardly spreading         than and not as upright as plants of the cultivar Narrow Gray         Leaved.     -   2. Flower color of plants of the new Oenothera was more intense         than flower color of plants of the cultivar Narrow Gray Leaved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Oenothera.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘INNOENO131’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INNOENO131’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. in an outdoor nursery during the late spring with day temperatures ranging from 18 to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 18° C. Plants were grown in 12.5-cm container and had been growing for about seven weeks when the photographs and description were taken. Plants were pinched one time. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Oenothera hybrida cultivar INNOENO131. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.— Oenothera hybrida cultivar African Sun, not             patented.         -   Male parent.— Oenothera hybrida cultivar Narrow Grey Leaved,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; freely branching; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit;             low-mounding. Freely branching growth habit with about eight             lateral branches per plant. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 37 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Fair. Texture: Fine             pubescence. Color, young stems: 145C. Color, older stems:             177C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 4.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Fine pubescence. Venation pattern:             Pinnate; arcuate. Color: Developing and fully expanded             foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded             foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper and lower             surfaces: 147B. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Solitary terminal and axillary             rounded flowers. Flowers persistent. Flowers face upright or             outwardly.         -   Quantity.—Freely flowering; about 24 flower buds and open             flowers per lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             typically flower from June though October in Southern             California; flowering continuous during this period. Plants             start flowering about four weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to two days.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Depth:             About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Slender, elongated. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Four petals in a single whorl;             fused at base. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm.             Shape: Elongated cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, satiny. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 7A. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: 7B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of four sepals;             fused at the base. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About             2.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth. Texture,             lower surface: Fine pubescence. Color, upper surface: 3B.             Color, lower surface: 144C to 144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight.             Anther shape: Linear; slender. Anther length: About 4 mm.             Anther diameter: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 163C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 1A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 3 cm. Style length: About             2.2 mm. Style color: 12A. Stigma shape: Four-parted. Stigma             color: 12A. Ovary color: 146B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Oenothera have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Oenothera. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Oenothera have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from 6 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Oenothera plant named ‘INNOENO131’, as illustrated and described. 